Microsoft will charge $1.50 to users who download Office 2007 Beta 2 starting Wednesday August 2.
The company claimed that more than 3 million people have downloaded the test version, a number that exceeded expectations by more than 500 percent. "Given how dramatically the Beta 2 downloads have exceeded Microsoft's goals, we have made the business decision to implement a cost recovery measure for downloading [it]," a spokesperson said Monday.
Office 2007 Beta 2 went live for download and DVD ordering in late May. The next month, Microsoft launched an online-based Test Drive that lets users run Office 2007 applications without installing them. Test Drive will remain free, said the spokesperson.
Users can also still order a DVD copy of the beta for $4.95, plus postage ($2 for U.S. orders.)
Microsoft said it's considering the fee a special instance. "It's a one-time deal," the spokesperson confirmed. And the Office 2007 technical refresh, an update expected in a new weeks, will be available free of charge.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
